The Unintentional Meat Encounter: Stories from a Vegetarian
As a vegan or a vegetarian, navigating through a non-vegan world can be quite challenging. Even seasoned vegetarians face unintentional meat encounters from time to time. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common and humorous stories from vegetarians about accidentally consuming meat.
French Onion Soup: An Unveiled Secret
One of the most common stories is when a vegetarian discovers that a beloved dish they’ve been enjoying is, in fact, filled with meat. A clear example is French onion soup. I, for instance, was blissfully unaware that it was made with beef broth for a whole year. The broth is so well-seasoned that it’s hard to detect any meat chunks. I eventually realized it myself when I decided to try making my own and saw the beef broth ingredients clearly listed. Since then, I’ve made my own soup without any meat-based broth.
The Pink Egg Roll Mystery
Ordering takeout food is a double-edged sword for vegetarians, as it might lead to some surprising encounters. One time, my non-vegan companion ordered a shrimp eggroll while I placed my usual order of steamed vegetables and vegetable egg rolls. Right after the meal, I took a bite of my usual vegetable egg roll, which had an off taste. Concerned but not knowing the cause, I took a closer look and found it was pink inside, revealing a shrimp-filled eggroll. It took me a moment to realize that my friend had switched her order. Feeling embarrassed and disgusted, I had to admit that I couldn’t recall what shrimp tastes like since becoming vegetarian in 1992. On the drive home, knowing that eating a cooked shrimp was in the near future, I promptly threw up while still at the restaurant.
The Wet Cardboard Saga
Another memorable incident was with McDonald's fries. Despite the rave reviews, I tasted them and found them to be anything but delicious. They tasted like wet cardboard, whether fresh or not, with or without salt. It wasn't until after a lawyer sued McDonald’s for using beef flavoring in their fries that I delved deeper. Upon discovering that the beef flavoring was now made with milk and wheat derivatives, I decided to investigate further. Burger King fries also contain milk, whereas Wendy's fries do not. This might explain why Wendy’s fries are universally considered to be the best among fast-food chains.
Conclusion
These stories highlight the challenges vegetarians face when navigating a non-vegan world. Whether it's ordering takeout, eating at a restaurant, or simply trying a new recipe at home, unintentional meat encounters can happen to anyone. It's important for vegetarians to be aware of the ingredients in their food and to communicate clearly with servers and friends about their dietary preferences. As the famous saying goes, 'Peace be with you, my friend!' Let's continue to support and educate each other in the world of plant-based eating.